Back to EveryPatent.com
| United States Patent |
6,173,708
|
|
Arntz
, et al.
|
January 16, 2001
|
Gas burner mounting assembly for appliance with ceramic based cooktop
Abstract
A gas burner mounting assembly includes a gas injector having a main body
portion positioned between a chassis member of a gas cooking appliance and
a ceramic based cooktop of the appliance. The gas injector also includes
an upper body portion which extends through an aperture formed in the
cooktop. A burner retention bracket is interposed between the main body
portion of the gas injector and an underside of the cooktop. A resilient
support preferably acts between the gas injector and the cooktop, although
no rigid attachment is made between these elements. The gas injector is
mechanically, fixedly secured to the cooktop in order to allow the gas
injector to flex with the cooktop.
| Inventors:
|
Arntz; Timothy John (Cleveland, TN);
Brooks; Steven Todd (Cleveland, TN);
Pickering; Mark A. (Cleveland, TN)
|
| Assignee:
|
Maytag Corporation (Newton, IA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
439991 |
| Filed:
|
November 15, 1999 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
126/39R; 126/39H |
| Intern'l Class: |
F24C 003/00 |
| Field of Search: |
126/39 R,39 H,39 N,39 J,39 K
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5024209 | Jun., 1991 | Shaupert.
| |
| 5040970 | Aug., 1991 | Riehl.
| |
| 5046477 | Sep., 1991 | Bennett et al.
| |
| 5083915 | Jan., 1992 | Riehl.
| |
| 5085202 | Feb., 1992 | Riehl.
| |
| 5125390 | Jun., 1992 | Riehl.
| |
| 5133334 | Jul., 1992 | Riehl.
| |
| 5139417 | Aug., 1992 | Ghassemzadeh.
| |
| 5149262 | Sep., 1992 | Riehl.
| |
| 5152276 | Oct., 1992 | Brock et al.
| |
| 5313929 | May., 1994 | Thurk et al.
| |
| 5325842 | Jul., 1994 | Beach et al.
| |
| 5628302 | May., 1997 | Schatz et al.
| |
| 5653219 | Aug., 1997 | Taplan et al.
| |
| 6032662 | Mar., 2000 | Taplan et al. | 126/39.
|
Primary Examiner: Lazarus; Ira S.
Assistant Examiner: Lee; David
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Diederiks, Jr; Everett G.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a gas cooking appliance including a ceramic based cooktop spaced
above a chassis member of the appliance and provided with a mounting
aperture, a gas burner mounting assembly comprising:
a gas injector having a main body portion, positioned between the chassis
member and the cooktop, and an upper body portion extending into the
mounting aperture of the cooktop, said upper body portion being threaded;
and
a fastening member arranged above the cooktop, said fastening member being
threadably attached to the upper body portion of said gas injector to
fixedly secure the gas injector to the cooktop, with the cooktop being
positioned between the main body portion of the gas injector and the
fastening member.
2. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper
body portion of the gas injector is externally threaded.
3. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising: a burner retention bracket interposed between the main body
portion and an underside of the cooktop.
4. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 3, wherein the
burner retention bracket includes a first diametric portion and a second,
larger diametric portion, with said first diametric portion projecting
into the mounting aperture and the second diametric portion extending
below the cooktop.
5. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 4, further
comprising: a gasket interposed between the second diametric portion and
the underside of the cooktop.
6. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main
body portion of the gas injector is spaced above the chassis member.
7. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 6, further
comprising: means, acting between the chassis member and the main body
portion of the gas injector, for biasing the gas injector towards the
cooktop.
8. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
biasing means comprises a resilient mounting support interposed between
the chassis member and the gas injector.
9. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
biasing means includes a gas supply line which is attached to the gas
injector and abuts the chassis member.
10. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising: a gas burner head positioned atop the cooktop between the
cooktop and the fastening member.
11. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 10, further
comprising: a through hole formed in the cooktop at a position offset from
the mounting aperture, and a locator pin depending from the gas burner
head, said locator pin extending into the through hole.
12. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 11, further
comprising: a bore formed in the cooktop at a position offset from each of
the mounting aperture and the through hole, and an electronic igniter
element projecting into the bore.
13. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 12, further
comprising: a gasket positioned between the cooktop and the gas burner
head, said gasket including three openings respectively aligned with the
mounting aperture, the through hole and the bore in said cooktop.
14. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 12, further
comprising: a burner cap positioned atop the gas burner head, said burner
cap being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially
opening burner ports, said electronic igniter being positioned adjacent at
least one of said burner ports.
15. In a gas cooking appliance including a ceramic based cooktop spaced
above a chassis member of the appliance and provided with a mounting
aperture, a gas burner mounting assembly comprising:
a gas injector having a main body portion, positioned between the chassis
member and the cooktop, and an upper body portion extending into the
mounting aperture of the cooktop, said gas injector being rigidly secured
to the cooktop; and
means, acting between the chassis member and the main body portion of the
gas injector, for biasing the gas injector towards the cooktop while
permitting the gas injector to shift relative to the chassis member.
16. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the
biasing means comprises a resilient mounting support interposed between
the chassis member and the gas injector.
17. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the
biasing means includes a gas supply line which is attached to the gas
injector and abuts the chassis member.
18. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 15, wherein said
upper body portion of the gas injector is threaded and said gas burner
mounting assembly further comprises a fastening member arranged above the
cooktop, said fastening member being threadably attached to the upper body
portion of said gas injector to fixedly secure the gas injector to the
cooktop, with the cooktop being positioned between the main body portion
of the gas injector and the fastening member.
19. The gas cooking appliance according to claim 18, wherein the upper body
portion of the gas injector is externally threaded.
20. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 15, further
comprising: a burner retention bracket interposed between the main body
portion and an underside of the cooktop.
21. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 20, wherein the
burner retention bracket includes a first diametric portion and a second,
larger diametric portion, with said first diametric portion projecting
into the mounting aperture and the second diametric portion extending
below the cooktop.
22. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 21, further
comprising: a gasket interposed between the second diametric portion and
the underside of the cooktop.
23. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 15, further
comprising: a gas burner head positioned atop the cooktop at the upper
body portion of the gas injector.
24. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 23, further
comprising: a through hole formed in the cooktop at a position offset from
the mounting aperture, and a locator pin depending from the gas burner
head, said locator pin extending into the through hole.
25. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 24, further
comprising: a bore formed in the cooktop at a position offset from each of
the mounting aperture and the through hole, and an electronic igniter
element projecting into the bore.
26. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 25, further
comprising: a gasket positioned between the cooktop and the gas burner
head, said gasket including three openings respectively aligned with the
mounting aperture, the through hole and the bore in said cooktop.
27. The gas burner mounting assembly according to claim 25, further
comprising: a burner cap positioned atop the gas burner head, said burner
cap being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially
opening burner ports, said electronic igniter being positioned adjacent at
least one of said burner ports.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of gas cooking appliances and,
more particularly, to the mounting of a gas burner to a ceramic based
appliance cooktop.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A conventional gas cooking appliance will incorporate a cooktop which is
generally formed of coated metal or glass. The cooktop is provided with an
opening for receiving a gas operated burner. More specifically, the gas
burner projects through the cooktop and is typically, rigidly secured to a
chassis of the appliance and either fixedly or loosely secured to the
cooktop. Whether a rigid or loose connection is present, some type of
sealing arrangement is often provided between the cooktop and the gas
burner in order to seal the opening so as to enhance the cleanability of
the overall appliance.
Other known gas appliances incorporate ceramic based cooktops, e.g.,
ceramic and glass-ceramic cooktops. Due to material characteristic
limitations, the interior panel of such a ceramic based cooktop must be
free to flex during use of the appliance. For at least this reason, either
a loose connection or no connection at all is generally provided between a
gas burner and a ceramic based cooktop, while a rigid connection is
utilized between the gas burner and the appliance chassis. With such an
arrangement, since the gas burner must still project through an opening in
the cooktop, it is extremely difficult to provide an extremely effective
seal around the burner unit.
Although some attempts have been made in the art to provide an arrangement
wherein a gas burner is secured against a ceramic based cooktop, there
exists a need in the art for an enhanced gas burner mounting assembly for
use in connection with a cooking appliance incorporating a ceramic based
cooktop, wherein the gas burner is fixedly secured to the cooktop in a
manner which enables the burner to flex with the cooktop during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a gas burner mounting assembly in a
cooking appliance including a ceramic based cooktop, wherein a gas burner
is fixedly secured to the cooktop and, preferably, loosely connected to a
chassis of the appliance. With this arrangement, the gas burner can flex
with the ceramic cooktop during operation of the cooking appliance.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the gas burner
mounting assembly includes a gas injector/mixer having a main body portion
arranged below the cooktop and an upper body portion which extends through
a mounting aperture formed in the cooktop. A burner retention bracket is
preferably placed about the upper body portion so as to be interposed
between the main body portion and the underside of the cooktop. In
addition, a first gasket is arranged between the burner retention bracket
and the underside of the cooktop.
At least a section of the upper body portion of the gas injector/mixer
which extends through the cooktop is externally threaded and projects into
a central through hole formed in a gas burner head positioned on the
cooktop, preferably with a second gasket interposed between the gas burner
head and the cooktop. A fastening member, which preferably takes the form
of a nut, is threaded on the upper body portion of the gas injector/mixer,
thereby fixedly securing the gas injector/mixer, the burner retention
bracket, the first and second gaskets and the gas burner head to the
cooktop. The overall gas burner mounting assembly further includes a
burner cap which is set on top of the burner head.
Given the rigid connection between the gas burner and the ceramic based
cooktop, when the cooktop flexes during use of the cooking appliance, the
gas burner will also flex. In order to provide a resilient support at
various spaced locations for the cooktop, it is also preferable in
accordance with the present invention to provide a resilient support which
acts between a chassis member of the cooking appliance and each of the gas
burners. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a
resilient mounting support is positioned between the chassis member and
the gas injector/mixer in order to bias the gas injector/mixer towards the
cooktop. In another embodiment, a gas supply line extending to the gas
injector/mixer is supported by the appliance chassis at a position spaced
from the gas injector/mixer such that the gas supply line essentially acts
as a leaf spring. In either case, a resilient support is provided for the
cooktop, while also biasing the gas injector towards the underside of the
cooktop. Regardless of the presence or particular type of biasing
arrangement utilized, no rigid connection is provided between the gas
burner and the chassis in order to ensure the ability of the gas burner to
flex with the cooktop.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings
wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the
several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a range incorporating the gas
burner mounting assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the gas burner mounting assembly of the
invention; and
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the gas burner mounting
assembly shown in an assembled condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is incorporated in
a cooking appliance 2 which is shown to constitute a typical domestic
range. At this point, it should be realized that the present invention
could also be used in connection with an island-type cooktop. In any
event, for exemplary purposes, cooking appliance 2 is shown to include a
cabinet 5 within which is formed an oven cavity 8. Oven cavity 8 has
associated therewith a door 10 which is provided with a tempered glass
viewing panel 12. Cooking appliance 2 operates on gas and therefore a gas
burner 15 is provided beneath a bottom 18 of oven cavity 8. Furthermore, a
plurality of fore-to-aft extending and vertically spaced rails 20 are
provided upon opposing side walls, one of which is indicated at 22, for
supporting one or more vertically adjustable racks (not shown) within oven
cavity 8. For the sake of completeness, cooking appliance 2 is shown to be
provided with a switch 25 that is adapted to be engaged by door 10 in
order to de-activate a light (not shown) used to illuminate oven cavity 8
upon opening of door 10. As should be readily apparent, the structure of
cooking appliance 2 described to this point is widely known in the art and
does not form part of the present invention. Instead, this basic structure
is simply provided for the sake of completeness.
In accordance with the invention, cooking appliance 2 incorporates a
ceramic based-type cooktop 30. That is, cooktop 30 can take various forms
and can be made from various ceramic based materials. Therefore, by
referring to the cooktop 30 as being made from a ceramic-based material,
it is intended to cover various materials including ceramic, glass-ceramic
and like materials. Mounted to cooktop 30 are a plurality of gas burner
assemblies 34-37. Arranged at an upper rear portion of cooking appliance 2
is a control panel 40 that is preferably provided with a plurality of
knobs 42-45 for controlling the operation of gas burners 34-37
respectively. In addition, control panel 40 is shown to include a central
control unit 47 that includes a visual display 48. Central control unit 47
is actually used to establish desired cooking operations for oven cavity
8. Since the arrangement and operation of central control unit 47 does not
form part of the present invention, it will not be discussed further here.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2 and 3 in describing the preferred
structure and mounting of gas burner assembly 34 in accordance with the
invention and it is to be understood that gas burner assemblies 35-37 are
correspondingly arranged. As shown, gas burner mounting assembly 34
includes a gas injector 52 which essentially functions as both an injector
and a mixer as will be described more fully below. As shown, gas injector
52 includes a main body portion 55 and an upper body portion 56. The main
body portion 55 is provided with a threaded port 59 to which is attached a
first end 61 of a gas line 63 through the use of a threaded fitting 65.
Gas line 63 also includes a second end 67 which is adapted to be attached
to additional gas piping (not shown). Main body portion 55 includes a
cut-out central zone 70 into which projects a gas discharge nozzle 72.
Nozzle 72 is fluidly connected to threaded port 59 such that gas flowing
to gas injector 52 through line 63 will be discharged through nozzle 72.
The gas discharged through nozzle 72 is directed to upper body portion 56
of gas injector 52. Upper body portion 56 includes a first tubular section
76 and a second tubular section 78. As shown, second tubular section 78 is
preferably, externally threaded.
Gas burner mounting assembly 34 further includes a burner retention bracket
82 which, in a preferred embodiment, is formed with a first diametric
portion 85 and a second, enlarged diametric portion 86. The first
diametric portion 85 is provided with a central through hole 88 that is
adapted to extend about second tubular section 78 of upper body portion 56
and to rest upon a ledge 90 defined between the first tubular section 76
and the second tubular section 78.
Cooktop 30 is provided with a mounting aperture 95 into which extends
second tubular section 78 of gas injector 52. In accordance with the most
preferred form of the invention, second diametric portion 86 of burner
retention bracket 82 is located in a lower plane than first diametric
portion 85 such that first diametric portion 85 also extends into mounting
aperture 95 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, mounting aperture
95 has a larger associated diameter than first diametric portion 85, while
second diametric portion 86 of burner retention bracket 82 is arranged
below cooktop 30. Actually, as will be described more fully below, the
second diametric portion 86 of burner retention bracket 82 is arranged
against the underside of cooktop 30 with an annular gasket 97, preferably
made of silicon, positioned therebetween.
FIG. 3 illustrates two preferred embodiments for biasing gas injector 52
towards cooktop 30. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates the presence of
a resilient mounting support 102 which extends between a chassis panel
member 105 and main body portion 55 of gas injector 52. As shown,
resilient mounting support 102 includes an annular support leg 108 which
abuts chassis member 105 and a frusto-conical top portion 110 which
extends into a recessed area (not separately labeled) of main body portion
55. Due to the presence of resilient mounting support 102 between chassis
member 105 and gas injector 52, gas injector 52 is biased towards the
underside of cooktop 30. As an alternative biasing arrangement, or an
arrangement which can be used in combination with resilient mounting
support 102, chassis member 105 is shown to be formed with a raised
portion 113 which is abutted by a portion of gas line 63 at a positioned
spaced from gas injector 52. With this arrangement, gas line 63 can
essentially act as a leaf spring to also bias gas injector 52 towards
cooktop 30.
As best shown in FIG. 2, cooktop 30 also includes a through hole 118 and a
bore 120 which are spaced from each other and offset from mounting
aperture 95. An upper gasket 126, having a central hole 128 and a pair of
offset holes 129 and 130, is adapted to be positioned atop cooktop 30 with
central hole 128 aligning with mounting aperture 95, offset hole 129
aligning with through hole 118 and offset hole 130 aligning with bore 120.
When upper gasket 126 is positioned against cooktop 30, the second tubular
section 78 of upper body portion 56 projects through central hole 128.
An electronic igniter 133 is adapted to extend through offset hole 130 and
bore 120. Although not shown, electronic igniter 133 would be connected to
an electric wire below cooktop 30 and is used to create a spark for
igniting gas burner assembly 34. Gas burner assembly 34 also includes a
gas burner head 137 that is preferably formed with a depending locating
pin 140. Locating pin 140 is adapted to be aligned with offset hole 129
and through hole 118 in order that gas burner head 137 can rest against
cooktop 30 with upper gasket 126 interposed therebetween. Gas burner head
137 also includes a central hole 143 through which upper body portion 56
of gas injector 52 projects. In the manner known in the art, gas burner
head 137 is provided with a plurality of spaced, radial gas/air guiding
grooves 146. Furthermore, gas burner head 137 is shown to include a pair
of upstanding projections 149 and 150.
In order to rigidly secure gas injector 52 to a cooktop 30, gas burner
assembly 34 also includes a fastening member 152 which takes the form of a
nut. Fastening member 152 is preferably threadably engaged with second
tubular section 78 of gas injector 52 and is tightened in order to draw
gas burner head 137 and gas injector 52 together, thereby sandwiching
cooktop 30 between second diametric portion 86 of burner retention bracket
82 and gas burner head 137. Once fastening member 152 is tightened, gas
injector 52 is rigidly, fixedly secured to cooktop 30. Gas burner assembly
34 further includes a burner cap 155 which is adapted to sit atop gas
burner head 137. Burner cap 155 includes a plurality of circumferentially
spaced and radially opening ports 158, each of which is adapted to be
aligned with a respective radial groove 146. Upstanding projections 149
and 150 on gas burner head 137 and recesses (not shown) formed in burner
cap 155 provide for the proper alignment. Electronic ignitor 133 is
positioned adjacent at least one of ports 158.
With this construction, it should be readily apparent that gas injector 52
will flex with cooktop 30 during operation of cooking appliance 2. In
addition, the inclusion of resilient mounting support 102 and/or the
supporting of gas line 63 on raised portion 113 of chassis member 105
provides additional support for cooktop 30, while also aiding in
maintaining gas injector 52 in a proper position as shown in FIG. 3 while
upper gasket 26, electronic igniter 133, gas burner head 137 and fastening
member 152 are assembled in the manner described above. In any event, gas
injector 52 is loosely connected to chassis member 105 either through the
resilient mounting support 102 or gas line 63.
It should be noted that burner retention bracket 82 performs various
functions. First of all, burner retention bracket 82 locates the threads
of second tubular section 78 at the proper distance above cooktop 30 in
order to enable second tubular section 78 to project through central
through hole 143 in gas burner head 137 and to be engaged by fastening
member 152. In addition, burner retention bracket 82 functions as a stop
on the underside of cooktop 30 due to the indirect engagement between
second diametric portion 86 and the underside of cooktop 30. Gaskets 97
and 126 protect cooktop 30 from direct abutment with burner retention
bracket 82 and both electric igniter 133 and gas burner head 137
respectively. In the most preferred form of the invention, both burner
retention bracket 82 and gas burner head 137 are preferably made of metal.
In addition, gaskets 97 and 126 provide a sealing function for the overall
mounting of gas burner assembly 34.
Although described with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention,
it should be readily apparent that various changes and/or modifications
can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.
For example, instead of providing projections 149, 150 and fastening
member 152, a fastener member could be integrated into burner cap 155
which would be threaded onto second tubular section 78 and tightened to
still align ports 158 of burner cap 155 with grooves 146. In general, the
invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following
claims.
Top